Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-03-04

Z
| conscious that everything depended on his
GOODNESS but the idea that he must think
precluded every other thought. 81 must
think must think. He could almost
hear the words and. somewhere in his
brain the echo rang, Think think !
think -
Rast pressed his hands to his throbbing
temples Oh, if he could think 81 will,
he cried aloud, and summoning every pow
err. looked around him. The short spring
twilight was drawing to speedy close
Through the deepening gloom the shores on
! either hand could he Just deserted, and,
bark that rushing sound must he Svitzer's
brook Thank God, he was no further
from home The last few minutes had
been unreasonable. The river ran on
smoothly. and Rast became quite calm
a. he reviewed his situation. Until he
reached the mouth Of the Narrows there
was a chance of rescue : after that, none.
Arriving at this conclusion Rast picked
every cake of ice within reach which drift
| ed more slowly than he, hoping TO retard
his progress, and work into less rapid
part of the channel The tide was run
ming out, but a stiff breeze blew up-river
That's one thing in my favor, Rast
congratulated himself, and his spirits rose
Perhaps by eaping from cake to cake he
might in time gain the land. 1t was IA very
good thing that lac could jump well-Chal
| would have "a hard one to beat him at that
| They would race again tomorrow, and If
| he was of a mind to try, he could win
without any trouble. But Us time passed
/ even these cheering thoughts failed to keep
| up Rasts courage. and he shuddrred as the
/ licking waves curled over the edge Of the
| ice cake 1t was no use he would deceive
| himself no longer. He knew well that ne
| dared not quit his solid cake for one that
might break under him and drop him into
! black river. No vessel would think OF
coming upstream when the ice was going
out and for help from the shore-there
was hardly house within sound of the riv
er from Clearharbor to the bay 1t grew
| dark very rapidly. and as nothing could be
/ seen on either hand, Rast was obliged to
! give up his endeavors and drift on. At IA
bend in the river the old whirling motion
began anew, and closing his eyes he plant
ed his pick pole in the middle OF the ice
cake, and leaned his head against 1t. max
ing every effort to keep his brain clear. \
| crunching noise startled him Was it a
| field white with snow stretching before
him. or the beach strewed with blocks of
! ice 1t was neither 1t was a Jam in the
rivers curve ON over the piled-up mass
he sprang, leaping black pools and swing
ing out over sinking cakes. If he could
only reach land before the Jam broke up
But bewildered instead of making for the
nearest shore he had taken IA direct course
to the outer edge of the jam, which was
already yielding to the pressure in the rear.
Rast hardly discovered his error before
he was off again. The cake under his feet
cracked and split, but gathering all his
| energy, he managed to get on the largest
fragment aS it fuated away, settling under
. 4. L. /
his knees. His exertions had left him So
weak that he had not strength enough to
hope for rescue. Once he essayed to shout,
but his voice was as hoarse as the croak of
a frog. How long he drifted on Rast
never knew. At last delightful sense
of drowSiness crept over him. Did some
one call him, or were the boys cheering be
cause he had won the race 1t did not
matter which, for Rast had become indiffer-
ent to care.
Having once accepted Chal as his com
mander-in- chief. Ned Croker set out To eX
ecute his orders. The news spread rapid
ly. but before the townsfolk were aroused
he had procured two good horses, and in
company with Harry Mclean was cIatter-
ing over the bridge. When the report
reached Deacon Hastings's ears it had as
sumed still more alarming proportions.
Ragbag's version afforded some comfort,
and when the little fellow said, consolingly,
Don't You worry, deakm, something or
other II bring Rast back Rast Ii come out
all right, deakn, cause he will, tears fell
from the good mans eyes, and he knelt ON
his dusty little grocery and prayed to the
only One who was able to save his boy.
In the mean time VIII Ransom had taken
his boat from her winter-quarters and hur
ried her away, The road leading from the
! 1
alive with men in wagons and men ON foot,
eager to help in some way ; but it was poor
at best, and it seemed long time before
the foremost carriages arrived at their
destination. Then huge fires were kindled,
and men with lanterns stationed themselves
along the beach. Ned and Harry returned
from voyage in rickety dory, but brought
no news The row-boat. manned by four
sturdy fishermen was launched, and the
rest of the men gathered i'll small groups,
talking in low tones. Was that cry from
the river, or the wind sitting through the
branches of the pines
There's the boat - some one exclaimed.
keep quiet" replied another, with
glance toward Deacon Hastings. You'll
hear the oars long before you see her
But soon others caught sight of some
dark object moving at a little distance from
the shore, faint, yet growing more and
more distinct. The figure glided silently
into the beach Just below, and each man
condemned himself for superstition when
the voice of Challis Grey was recognized,
Say lend fellow a hand, will you y
1t was IA night of surprises; but there
was little room in the heart of any for
aught besides thanksgiving when Rast
Hastings alive but thoroughly exhausted,
was lifted from the bottom of Chals canoe,
Until late that night the Hastings home
stead was filed with guests, and as steam
ing mugs of the deacon's best Java went
around, Chal was prevailed upon to give an
account of his adventures
After left the boys he began, red
dening under 50 many eyes, Il got my ca
noe and started for the river. You see, !
felt as if l was responsible for Rast some
how If it hadn't been for me he'd never
have tried to spear that log at all. didn't
dare go down the Narrows for fear of get
ting smashed in, but the Thoroughfare was
comparatively clear, so | put in and pad
died off | was Just cutting across the
head of the bay when ran plump into the
ice cake that Rast was on, so | pulled him
aboard and started for the island, and
that's all,
But those who cheered him till the old
house shook, and grasped his hand till he
, was glad to make his escape, knew that he
had told but very little of his dangerous
trip.
f The boys had gathered upstairs, where
Rast pale and weak, was lying ON his bed
holding court. Il tell you what, fellows, y
, he was saying, as Chal opened the door, Il
had good deal of time to think, even on
! such short trip. Things look different
, when one isn't sure of seeing daylight
again If Chal had padded few strokes
more or a few strokes less, If the current
f had carried me u foot from the place where
he found me-oh, if thousand and one
/ things hadn't happened exactly as they did,
! / shouldn't he here No; don't try TO make
a hero of me- | did very reckless thing
, Chal, very noble one. Do you boys real
e ice, he went ON, after n minutes pause,
what time Chal must have made to pad
. die down the Thoroughfare soon enough to
meet me at the mouth of the Narrows
NV hest record would be nowhere. Dear
10 old boy'---drawing Chal To a seat beside
e him-''it would be strange if / WASH
proud To own myself beaten by one who
Y risked his life to save mine. '-Hdrpe"s
e Wcekig.
1 Who is the god of battles y asked q
; teacher of the class in mythology. Mar
. answered little Johnnie Henpeck, Mars,
e YOU mean, Johnnie corrected the teacher.
II .N.H q NaNHlN